Automatic sprinkler system



Jul 22, 1924. A. J. LOEPSINGER AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM Filed Anril 18, 1922 spa/ ways a NVENTOR mm??? J La ATTORNEYS State of Rhode Island, have invented certain 7 type. In such systems Patent at, 22,1924.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM.

' Application filed April 18, 1922. Serial No. 554,912.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. LoErsINeER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at rovidence, in the county of Providence and new and useful Improvements in Automatic Sprinkler Systems, of which the following is a specification.

TlllS invention relates to improvements in automatic sprinkler systems of the dry pipe of the type in commgn use the water supply under pressure is normally stopped at the dry pipe valve, beyond which are the distribution pipes, normally filled with air'at, a pressure sufficient to hold the dry pipe valve closed.- When a sprinkler opens, the ensuing escape of air and reduction of air pressure permit the water supply to force the dry pipe valve open for supply of water to the sprinkler. Valuable time elapses while the air is escaping. It is a purpose of the invention to provide improve means for accelerating the opening of a dry pipe valve, after a sprinkler has opened, without waiting for the air pressure at the valve to have become sufficiently reduced through escape'of air to be overpowered. A type of devlce suitable for this purpose has already been disclosed by me in my pendin application for United States atent, Seria No. 169,653, filed- May 19, 191 It is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in the ap- 1 paratus there shown. The type of accelerator therein disclosed rovides apparatus for expediting action of the dry pipe valve by causing pressure on the larger clapper to be balanced as a result of the escape of air that occurs when a sprinkler opens. various Ways, there shown, for illustration, being to provide a such that when the one method and shown also herein, rate of change apparatus air pressure in the distribution system fall s.

more rapidly than a slow rate which has been predetermined as permissible, to allow for ordinary leakage, etc., the apparatus admits fluid under pressure. as, from the air system to the under side of the air clapper or diaphragm whose function it is toyield on fall of pressure in the air system. Thus, before such wall has actually proceeded far ferential valve, the intermediate chamber of I Wlllcl'l is typical of the chamber in any'sort of dry p1pe valve wherein a suflicient change of pressure causes tripping of the valve. In

particular the invention provides a single unit which contains in itself parts which in said earlier apparatus were separated structurally, the functions of much piping in the former apparatus being performed in the by a simple cast iron Another feature is improved communications, according to which one chamber herein called the system chamber both contains the operating valve, and supplies the operating air of the other chamber, herein called the power chamber, these two chambers bein at one place connected through a restricted o ening and at another place being separated only by a flexible diaphragm. The said restricted furnishes the ower which islater exerted through the diaphragm as a motor on a plunger in the system chamber for actuating the operating valve.- This direct communication and compact arrangement is made possible by the unitary arrangement above mentioned. As incidental to this, it is preferred that the power chamber be placed above the system chamber; and a passage forming a long upward extension of the latter, and which preferably is cast in, a wall of the structure, leads from the body'of the chamber to the restricted opening through which air enters the ower chamber. Preferably, the said opening is placed in the upper part of the power chamher, being thereby removed from contact with any water or dust thatmay rise in either chamber. This opening is a minute hole in a wafer of platinum set in the middle of a septum guarded on both sides by screens of thousand fold area. Another feature relates to the arrangement of the seated, said valve as a like, loose ma 7 close the valve, and providing said ball with valve is opened, to wit:

a stem and hand grip by apparatus is set ready which it can be rotated in order to grind it upon its seat while remaining in its said cage.

Another feature of the invention claimed herein is the motor by which the operating a movable weight which is upheld while the for use and which is guided in its falling so that the momentum of the falling weight throws open the operating valve, striking it with powerful leverage. As illustrated herein and in said pending application the weight is arranged on a swinging lever; and when set is swung upward through and a little past the vertical position, where it rests adjacent to a plunger, or the open end of a bushing containing the plunger, set horizontally at a considerable distance lever, so that but little diiference of pressure is requiredbetween the system cham her and the power chamber for the latter to have sufficient energy to topple the weight and thus to open the valve. The energy is expended in pushing the plunger and weight substantially horizontally until the weight is past the vertical, whereupon it falls by gravity plus whatever initial momentum it received from the plunger and power chamher; and this total of momentum acts through a leverage compounded of the weight lever and the valve lever to throw the operating valve open, irresistably overcoming any tendency of that valve to stick.

The various objects of the invention are accomplished, according to the principles set forth above, by the apparatus which has been partly described above and which is.

set forth more in detail in the description which follows showing one form in which it may be applied. It is obvious, however, that. variations may be made from the specific embodiment of the invention herein shown without departing from the scope of the invention. It is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features 0 patentable -novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation showing on a relatively large scale a medial section of the apparatus of -the present invention, and showing on a smaller scale, partly in section, the portion of a sprinkler system, in cluding the dry pipe valve, with whichthe same is associated;

. Figure 2 is an line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an elevation of part of the same detail, enlarged.

Referring to the drawings, the water sup ply pipe 10, dry pipe valve 12 and the diselevation in section on above the pivot of the of the moments of neoaoea tribution riser 14 containing air represent a dry-pipe system with, the water supply pressing up against the water clapper 18, tending to open it. Air inll presses down on the air clapper 16 (above thesmall'body of sealing water w which is seen in the drawing) maintaining it closed, while the system is static, set ready for operation. The intermediate chamber 20 stands open to atmosphere through drip valve 30, which permits slow drainage but closes with any considerable rush of fluid. The valve 12 may be any suitable form of the so-called dry-pipe valve type, difi'erential or mechanical in principle, that illustrated being a well known type or differential valve such as is described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,196,875 grantedto me September 5, 1916. In this particular type, the air and water clappers are connected and swing practically as aunit; and the relation of the area of the air clapper 16, to the area of the water clapper 18, and the ratio the forces acting on each clapper, are such that air under pressure in 1a, acting on the air clapper, balances supply water having six times its intensity of pressure upward on the water clapper. In practice, the air pressure may be normally maintained during static. condition of the system at about 25 pounds and the water pressure at about 60 to 90 pounds. lit is therefore necessary to reduce the efiective pressure on the air clapper to some 10 or 15 pounds per square inch before the water pressure can overpowerthe air to swing the clappers open. When the reduction occurs through a single open sprinkler, as most often happens, the lapse of time entails an objectionable delay during which the fire is spreading. To eliminate this delay is the purpose of the accelerator, accomplished in the particular type the air pressure to neutralize itself at the air clapper 16. This is effected by providing a normally closed passage from the upper to the under side of the air clapper, that is, from the riser 14 to the intermediate chamber 20, together with means to open said passage automatically whenever the air pressure begins to fall at as fast a rate as that caused by the opening of a single sprinkler. This balances air pressure on the air clapper, andinstantly eliminates it with its favorable area and leverage from the forces opposing opening of the water clapper. The invention provides a shell or casing 22 interiorly divided into a valve chamber or system chamber 24: and a power chamber 60. The former is responsive to pressure conditions in the distribution system 1% by its connection thereto through a short pipe 26 of ample diameter; and has a normally closed passage to an intermediate chamber 20 by another here shown, by causing forations 52" and 58 of toward the time by a motor comprising plunger in trance in system chamber 24 is open. This ball valve has a stem 34 rising. loosely through a valve cage consisting of a lever 36, pivotally mounted at enever this lever swings upward it engages a collar 40 on the stem 34 and so raises the ball from its seat. This stem also can rotate the ball about the axis of the stem to grind it on its seat, initially, and occasionally while in service, whenever the inspector turns the collar 40 with his fingers to remove I The end 36 of the lever 36 extends hori zontally beyond the ball, in position to be kicked up by the short arm 44 of a lever 44, whose weighted top end when it oper-.

provide the force by which the ball is unseated and the transfer passage opened. When set, as in Figure l, the center of gravity of the weight is almost over the axis-46, being ball valve, on which it gently res'ts' Thus only a slight force will be needed to move its center of gravity across the vertical, for the weight to fall and with its momentum by kinetic energy to throw the ball valve'32 open.

This slight'force is furnished by air ll. the power chamber 60, flexible diaphragm 56 of its wall to move a plunger 50 against the weight. The plunger is guided in a cylindrical extension or bushing 52 on a perforated partition 52 which guards the diaphragm 56 and supports it to relieve it of stress when bulged toward system chamber 24. When bulged toward the power chamber 60. set ready for action, the diaphragm is similarly g ported by the partition chamber 60 and by part of the outer wall of the shell. the cover plate 22". The perin these partitions make the diaphragm practically subject to whatever pressure conditions exist in the power and the system chambers. The power chamber is connected with the system chamber 24 by means of a cored passage or extension 24 of chamber 24, leading upward from the opening 63 in the wall of the system chamber. The actual connecting pas- 58 in the power 'sage however is restricted to a small opensay about .007 of an inch in diameing 64',

drawing, preferably ter, exaggerated in the arranged in a small platinum disk 64 set in a disk 64 of non-corrosive material, such 38 on the shelL,

any deposit or sediment thereon.

and the said operating but slightly on the side thereacting through a.

as bronze. For guardmg against ossible closure of this very small opening y particles floating in the air or water, screens 6 are provided on each side of the bronze dis held in place by removable hollow screw plugs 68. The disk, strainers, and hollow plugs are all arranged in a removable tube 70, one end of which is screwed into the wall of the storage'chamber 60 and the other end of which projects into the cavity of a hand hole cover 72, so that when the latter is taken off the sleeve is left protruding and may be reached by a wrench and removed for cleaning or examination.

It is a feature of the invention to a compact inexpensive and durable consystem chamber and the power chamber are cast in a single shell, with division wall and connecting passages; connections are set in bushings fitted into exterior openings of the casting and covered by plates bolted over for example, the removable 70 containing the platinum disk with guarded restricted passage 64', and covered by exterior plate 22. And there is the motor, comprising power chamber 60, plunger 50 which latter project into. system chamber 24 through an exterior opening in the shell being mounted in the cover plate 22" thereof and held by a bushing 52 which constitutes a perforated partition of the cham her. This cover plate 22 also covers and in part includes that part phragm 56. hese means and by connecting the power chamber to the valve chamber, instead of to the riser as heretofore, the piping involved in the accelerator is eliminated, except of course the single proposed are combined in one small shell; and all 0 erating parts are accessible under simple cover plates, for inspection and setting. By arrangement of the power; chamber above the system chamber, and making its entrance at the end of a long vertical extension 24' of the latter, the likelihood of dust or water reaching the p passage 64, before the reduced; yet that part is lnstantly accessible. And by making the same plate 22" cover both chambers, a diaphragm connection,-i. e. a flexible provided in the cover whereby all is made tight by simple bolts'and bushings; and any water that has entered the power chamber uring operation of the system is drained by the mere act of removal.

When the system is being charged, the air and water clappers 16, 18, are to be closed valve is tripped, is

provide and its actuating diaphragm 56,-

diminutive restricted wall,between them is and the former the ball valve being pushed back against the diaphragm 56 topple over; and upon in the illustrated. position, the weight 48 is then swung up into the position shown in Figure 1, ready to be toppled over by the plunger. Air under pressure is then introduced into the distribution system to the desired degree. This air entering the system chamber 24 freely through the pipe 26 while atmospheric pressure remains in the power chamber holds the diaphragm away from the plunger 50, because the air enters power chamber only from the system chamber, and flows only slowly through the restriction 64, so that pressure in the power cham ber changes with, but lags greatly behind, all changes of pressure in the sensitive system chamber Qi. Ultimately the pressure in these chambers becomes equal, and this condition prevails while the system is ready and waiting for action; the small opening 64 being large enough to let air flow back from the chamber 60, to compensate for any slow drop in pressure in the distribution pipes by reason of normal leakage. Water may then be admitted under pressure to the under side of the water clapper 18 in the supply pipe 10. In the intermediate chamber 20 there is atmospheric pressure, vent 30 being open to the atmosphere.

Upon the opening of a sprinkler head the air pressure in the system chamber falls with that in the system 14. Air in the power chamber 60 passes out so slowly through the restricted opening er, however, that pressure therein responds but slowly to the drop in the system.v Very quickly the diminution in the system chamber is great enough so that air in the power chamber,-

expanding by flexing the diaphragm 56 toward the system chamber moves the plunger to the left in Figure 1, pushing the weight and lever 44 ahead of it until they this fall the tail 41 i lifts the ball cage 36 and ball 32 and thus opens the way for air to flow from the riser 14 throu h system chamber 2 k to the intermediateciam er 20. This rush closes the drip valve 30 and almost instantly balances the air pressure above and below the air clapper, leaving only the lower air pressure on top of water clapper 18 in the chamber 20 to oppose the powerful hydrostatic pressure in the pipe 10 upward. The open ng of the water clapper has thus been greatly accelerated, for the total fall in will up to this instant have been but little.

Thereadiness of the apparatus to operate, and the\ prevention of its premature operation, may depend on the prevention of the restricted opening Get becoming clogged, bearing in mind that the apparatus may have to stand and be instantly ready for long periods of time without inspection.

the air pressure.

neeaoee To this end the bronze and platinum septum is guarded on both sides by disk septa of woven nickel wire cloth of extremely fine mesh. The holes therethrough may be smaller than the minute hole through the platinum disk, be of such relatively large diameter that the passages through them aggregate sev eral thousand in number, so that such flow of current of air as passes through the platinum has no appreciable velocity in passing through the guarding screens, an said screens have ample capacity .for having some of their openings become clogged without enough being clogged to interfere with the functioning of the restricted opening 64:.

ll claim as my invention: a 1. In an automatic sprinkler system the combination with a dry pipe valve of a passage from the air system to the intermediate chamber, casing; a valve in the casing closing said passage; said passage being so ample that it is quickly sensitive to changes ofpressure in the air system; and a motor and pressure storage means, also in said casing, the storage means being slowly responsive to changes of pressure in the air system an arranged to operate the motor; and said motor being operatively exposed to said sensitive passage, of fall of pressure therein; the motor being arranged to actuate the valve therein.

2. In an automatic sprinkler system the combination with a dry pipe valve of means for accelerating its action, comprising a shell containing a valve through which a passage leads from one side of the dry ipe valve to the intermediate chamber; said shell also containing a power storage chamber having, within the shell, a restricted entrance from the air system and a flexible wall, the power chamber and flexible wall being arranged as a motor comprising in part a responsive to a quick rate,

and said screens may easily Dill llltl to operate said valve in the shell when the rate of fall of pressure in the air system is substantially quicker than is transmitted through said 8. In an automatic sprinker' system the combination with a dry pipe valve of a device for accelerating its opening comprising a shell having a partition forming two chambers, one of which constitutes a part of a passage to the intermediate chamber of the drypipe valve from one side of the dry pipe valve and the other of which chambers is connected with the air system through a passage in said shell having a restricted opening, the said partition having a flexible portion exposed to air pressure of the-system and there being in the first mentioned chamber a valve closing said passage and adapted to be opened by said restricted open- .of pressure in the air flexible wall; whereby system the flexible wall opens the valve in said shell.

In an automatic sprinkler system the combination, with a dry pipe valve, of apparatus for accelerating its action, comprising a shell having a valve chamber constitutin part of a passage from one side of said (Iry pipe valve to its intermediate chamber; a valve in said valve chamber closing said passage; a second chambe in said shell connected with the first sa'd chamber through a restricted opening; and a movable wall between said shell chambers responsive .to difference. of pressure in said shell chambers and adapted upon moving to cause said passalge valve to be opened. 5.

11 an automatic sprinkler system the combination with a dry pipe valve of apparatus for accelerating its action, comprising a passage from one side of the valve to its intermediate chamber, in which passage is a chamber containing a valve for the passage, a lever structurally separate from and con" trolling said passage valve, and a weighted lever pivoted in said casing adapted to be held with its weight up; and apparatus to topple the weighted lever on occurrence of said weighted lever having a part which engages and opens said valve lever when the weighted lever is topple s 6. In an automatic sprinkler system the combination with a dry pipe valve of means to accelerate its action comprising a passage from the air system to the intermediate chamber; there being a shell having an interior partition forming two chambers, one of which is a part of said passage and contains a valve therefor, and the other of which chambers communicatesonly with the first mentioned chamber and communicates therewith only through a restricted opening; said partition between the chambers having a flexible portion; and means whereby the flexing of said portion toward the passage chamber opens the valve therein.

7 In an automatic sprinkler system the combination with a dry pipe valve of apparatus for accelerating its action comprising a passage from the air system to the intermediate chamber; there being a shell havin a partition forming two chambers, one 0 which is a part of said passage, contains a valve therefor, and has a long vertical extension of small cross-section; the other of which chambers is above the first mentioned chamber. and beside said extension, communicates therewith through a restricted opening, and has in its lower wall a flexible portion; and means whereby the flexing thereof toward the first mentioned chamber opens said passa e valve;

8. In an acce erator for an automatic having a dry pipe valve,

sprinkler system upon quick change ,quiclgchange of pressure in the air s stem;

constituting it a sensitive chamber, and the other of which has restricted connection therewith constituting it a power storage chamber; said restricted connection comprising a passage, a barrier disk therein of non-corrosive material containing centrally a minute opening; and disk screens set across said passage guarding said opening; and means for communicating, power from said storage chamber to'open said valve.

9. In an accelerator for an automatic sprinkler system having a dry pipe valve, the combination of a passage from one side thereof to its intermediate chamber, with a valve in said passage;.control means therefor comprising two chambers, one of which has ample connection with the air system, constituting it a sensitive chamber, and the other of which has restricted connection therewith constituting it a power storage chamber; said restricted connection comprising a tubular plug for said power storage chamber having interior shoulders, rela' tively large disks and'nuts holding them, said large disks comprising one of bronze having a central small opening, a platinum disk fillin said small 4 opening, and a minute hole through said set against said shoulders,

platinum disk constituting said restricted connection; and means for communicating power from said storage chamber to open said valve.

10. In an automatic sprinkler system the combination wit-h a dry pipe valve of a pas sage from the air system to the intermediate chamber comprising in part a casing having a partition where y two chambers are made therein, one of which is a part of said passage and has a valve therefor and is below the other chamber; the'said casing having a removable part overlying parts of both of said chambers and providing a section of each chamber; and a flexible wall, separating said sections in the cover plate and adapted to be bulged toward either cham-v ber; the whole bein arranged for it to 0 en said valve when bu ged toward it by a all of pressure in the valve in the other chamber; the said passage chamber being sensitive to air system pressure and the said other chamber having only restricted communication whereby it responds thereto only slowl 11. In an automatic sprinkler system, and in combination with the dry pipe valve thereof, a passage from one side of the pipe valve to its intermediate chamber; a casing forming part of said passage containing a valve, for the pamage; said valve comprising a ball arranged to seat downward passage more than valve and the intermediate chamber thereof;

and means housed Within the shell, responsive to a quick change of pressure in the air system and operated by a quick reduction but not by a slow reduction of said pressure therein, and arranged to open said valve in the shell. A

Signed at Boston, Massachusetts, this 17th day of April, 1922.

ALBERT LOEPSINGER. 

